BuffyBear's Journal, 13 February 2013

I just had my blood work done so am a little late chugging the morning coffee.

As for the test - there are two things they are always concerned about: blood sugar and cholesterol. At 206 pounds I was diagnosed as being pre-diabetic. Since then my low glycemic/low carb diet has been very successful at keeping my blood sugar down. But my cholesterol is another matter.

I went off my cholesterol meds last October - without telling my doctor. I have a follow up appointment next week to discuss the results so this topic to be continued...

I understand this post like I'd typed it myself. I did the same thing only last summer, my legs ached so bad from Lipitor I couldn't stand it any more so I just quit. A couple weeks ago I had more blood work done with results yesterday only to find while my cholesterol is down it's not down low enough to consider no meds. The doctor gave me a presc for a lower dose of another type so we'll see what happens with it. I also research meds, if I don't like the sounds of this one I think I'll be taking my chances of blocked arteries as I really don't like what I read about these drugs.
Good luck to you, I hope yours come out well.

That first cup after blood work always taste sooooo good...Wishing you luck with the other test..so glad the sugar level was good..Happy dancing that you don't have to take any thing for that..My family has a history of diabetics..several have died because they didn't take care of them selves..and a few have to take shots twice a day..so Buffy please take care of you...Hugs..:O)

Sunkeeper - What really set off my alarm bells was the latest research that statins lower the level of our large LDL ( the beneficial "fluffy" kind) more than the VLDL (the lower density harmful kind). So unless you have a specific test for the proportion of VLDL in your blood, you have no real idea of the benefit of the meds! My understanding is if your triglycerides are low and your HDL is high then there is no need to worry about slightly elevated LDL.

Bren - Oh yes that first cup was good! Funny - while I was trying to make coffee my boss walked into the kitchen and startled me so that I spilled water all over! Fortunately, while I was cleaning up that mess, someone brought in some McDonalds coffee (my hero!).

Keep on reading and researching Buffy, as you've already done...good job!!! Look for results specific to WOMEN and be sure you're seeing the absolute "risk" reductions, not the relative risk reductions, the latter is more often touted in press releases because it sounds so much bigger and more impressive. Gotta make the health choices you're most comfortable with; just be a healthy skeptic! LOL! Might want to look into "The Cholesterol Delusion" by Dr. Ernest Curtis and/or anything by Uffe Ravnskov, if you're looking for contrary viewpoints on the whole diet/heart/cholesterol theory.

Buffy, what Sandy said...I was just going to suggest that you really research how well these medicines truly work. My middle sis was told she needed to take the meds after following a low fat diet for years, her cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides were way out of whack. Doc wanted to start her on a statin drug. My dad took them for years and every check up, his cholesterol and triglycerides rose. So did the med dose. Anyway, middle sis asked if she could try changing her diet to low carb as opposed to low fat. The doctor gave her 3 months to experiment. When she went back, all her levels were normal, she had lost almost 30 pounds, and the doctor told her to keep doing what she was doing...no meds. So hang in there...keep researching and do what you feel is best for your body. Have a great day, and congrats on getting those blood glucose levels down!

I am SO proud of you! You always think things through and make good choices. I suppose it its a bit hard to watch cholesterol when doing Atkins - the fat is very high, isn't it? But good fats should be helpful. Have a great day!

Wow Buffy, I should have thought that the cholesterol would have come down with the weightloss. I imagine the type of fat in the Atkins diet makes a huge difference in cholesterol. Anyway, I think you're doing brilliantly. Very proud of you for taking control of your life.